TacomaDave May 13th, 2008
Contained here is a listing of all the stories in the WW II section (currently near 90) and all the map listings, in chronological order from the mechanization of the 2d Cavalry Regiment to the end of WW II. Just click on a link to view the entire story.
The reader is cautioned that these stories are told in the words of the men who experienced them and may contain graphic descriptions or objectionable terms. No attempt has been made to “smooth the edges” or “soften the story” for the viewing public. In the same aspect, no attempt has been made to cover up the names of the men who fought and died, nor the circumstances that brought about their final acts. It is the task of the Cavalry to take the fight to the enemy and disrupt his ability to function – a task that we perform quite well. Family members seeking information about a loved one may find more than they had hoped for.
THE NEW CAVALRY GOES TO WAR
NORMANDY CAMPAIGN
Continue Reading »
David.Gettman May 13th, 2008
A WW2 Remembrance of an Old 2nd US Cav Trooper, 1941-1945, A Personal Account
I was “asked” to join the US Army in Jan of 1941. Got an extension until July of ‘41 as I had some wheat out. I was inducted at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. and then sent to Ft. Riley, to serve with the 2nd Cav.
Was in several troops along the way and finally ended up in Machine Gun Troop. And for those of you who didn’t have horses in the Cav, we did and they got treated better than we did. But we did love those horses. Shortly after Dec 7, 1941 we boarded a train with the horses to guard the border in Arizona. And this was quite an experience. Finally during the spring of 1942 we were told we were going back to Fort Riley…only we didn’t take the horses with us. Got back to Ft Riley and found that all the horse barns had been turned into tank barns. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman March 31st, 2008
The invasion of Poland by the blitzing German panzers in 1939 accelerated the movement to mechanize American forces and led to the first extensive mechanized maneuvers in 1940. By 1941, the Second Calvary was participating in similar large-scale maneuvers in Louisiana. The headquarters for the Louisiana Maneuvers were in the Bentley Hotel in Alexandria, Louisiana. In January 1942, the Second Cavalry served a period on border duty at Tucson, Arizona.
Since the emphasis in the Army was shifting to armor, the Regiment, still a horse outfit, returned to Camp Funston, Fort Riley, Kansas, for refitting. It was there on 15 May 1942 that it was redesignated and refitted to form the Second Armored Regiment of the Ninth Armored Division. It was this outfit that spawned specific armored units composed initially of men and equipment from the Second Cavalry. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman March 29th, 2008
LETTER FROM SERGEANT VITO SPADAFINO, TROOP A, 42ND SQUADRON, 2ND CAVALRY REGIMENT
I’m a WW2 veteran formerly with the 2nd Cavalry Recon and Mechanized unit of the 3rd Army in the European Theater. My unit was responsible for re-capturing the [Lipizzan] Stallions and numerous other horses prior to the end of hostilities somewhere [Hostau] in Czechoslovakia. The Stallions were turned over to The Spanish Riding Academy and the mares in foal and other breeds were shipped to a huge estate somewhere in the American zone.
My platoon and I were responsible for the protection and care of these precious animals. I have some photos of the great, great, grandmothers of some of today’s offspring. Two German veterinarians and the grooms and family that we brought back with the animals tended to them.
We were also keeping watch on all the horses in different parts of the estate. Our main concern was the Russians who were on the other side of the hedges that separated our sector from theirs. We had constant patrols around our perimeter because of them. I was fortunate enough to be able to assist the Polish cook in the kitchen who provided us with delicious meals. We had two German Vets who cared for the horses and also bred some of them. The Lipizzaner mares were in separate corrals of their own. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman March 28th, 2008
Reactivation ceremony for the Second Cavalry Regiment, 15 January 1943. The article from Columbia, SC’s ‘The State’ newspaper reads:
SECOND CAVALRY REACTIVATED AT FORT JACKSON CEREMONIES
Outfit Welcomed By General Simpson Here Yesterday
The name of the Second Cavalry returned to the rolls of the United States Army yesterday morning, when the organization was reactivated at Fort Jackson. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman March 27th, 2008
The War Department reached the decision on December 18, 1942 to reactivate two regiments of cavalry, the Second and Twenty-Ninth, as mechanized units. A TWX from War Department through Army Ground Forces, Birmingham, Alabama, reached (then Lt. Col.) Charles H. Reed at the 42d Armored Regiment of the 11th Armored Division where he was assigned as Executive Officer. It designated him as Regimental Commander of the 2d Cavalry Regiment, Mechanized, being reactivated at Fort Jackson, S.C.
At the same time orders were received at Headquarters Fort Riley, Kansas, directing that Headquarters furnish the regimental staff. Continue Reading »
TacomaDave March 27th, 2008
Len Dyer, former curator at the 2d Cavalry’s Reed Museum, provided the following information:
2d Cavalry Group (Mechanized) operated under the Sept 1943 Table of Organization T/O 2-25 for the 2d & 42d Cavalry Reconnaissance Battalions. There were 44 officers, 3 warrant officers & 949 enlisted per battalion. Within the battalions there were 7 companies often referred to as cavalry troops (but officially as companies): HQ Company, recon companies – A, B, C, & D, assault gun company – E, & light tank company – F. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman March 26th, 2008
On March 9, 1944, a letter was received from the War Department stating in effect that the entire 2d Cavalry Group (Mecz) was to prepare for foreign duty and was to move to New York or Boston port of embarkation at a time to be determined by the appropriate Port Commander for further movement by water transportation. The preparations to be made, the requirements to be met, the date to be ready and the shipment number assigned for the advance and main parties were specified in this same letter. From that day on the entire effort of the Group was devoted towards preparing for overseas movement. Officers, warrant officers, and enlisted men were transferred and acquired until the Group reached its T/O strength on March 31, 1944. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman March 25th, 2008
by Sgt. Tom M. Griffin, H&S Troop, 42d Squadron
17 May, 1944
The big Camp at Bewdley (map CB) buzzed with tension. For the hundreds of eager ETO rookies, newly arrived from the States, it was a great day in their lives. This day marked their first taste of “the real thing”, for now they were not puppets in O.D. going through the motions of soldiering, with 3000 miles of water between them and English soil, but actually in the heart of Britain itself, awaiting the coming of that legendary figure, Lt. General George S. Patton Jr., “Old Blood and Guts” himself, about whom many a colorful chapter will be written for the school boys of tomorrow. Patton, of the brisk, purposeful stride, the harsh, compelling voice, the lurid vocabulary, the grim indomitable spirit that carried him and his Army to glory in Africa and Sicily, “America’s fightin’est General” they called him. He was not a “Desk Commando”, but the man who was sent for when the going got rough and a fighter was needed. The most hated and feared American of all on the part of the German Army. Patton was coming, and the stage was being set. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman March 24th, 2008
This is page 1 (AHN to GURTH) of the map listings. Click on the link next to a name to see that map. Some names may contain multiple links.
Once opened, a map can be clicked on to enlarge it for great detail. May take a minute to enlarge.
A listing of the towns highlighted on the map is below each map.
Ahn (map 33)
Alken (map 36)
Altenhasslau (map 39)
Ancenis (map 16)(map I)
Angers (map 16)(map I)(map II)
Angviller (map 29b)
Arces (map III)
Arcis-s-Aube (map III)
Arrach (map 46)
Arracourt (map 25)(map NS)
Asch (map 42)(map VII) Continue Reading »
